Improvement in methods of japanning small articles



O I f vcqlmncmrw.. METHOD 0F JAPAN'NING SMALL ARTICLES. N.1s4,eez.

' Patented Nov. 21,

.the cavities between the same.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES RADCLIFFE, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TC NEW JERSEY`MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN METHCDS OF JAPANNING SMALL ARTICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 184,662., datedNovember 21, 1876; application filed' May 8,1876.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES RADCLTFFE,

of the city of Newark and State of New Jer-` sey, have invented a newuseful Improvementhandle; but I illustrate the same in its appli.

cation to the japanniug of metal buttons, from which illustration itsapplicability to the arrangement and japanning oi' other small articlesof different configuration will be readily apparent.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top view of a plate for collecting thebuttons. Fig. 2 is a view of a second plate, to which the buttons aretransferred from plate A. Fig. 3 is a view of a third plate, to whichthe buttons are transferred from plate B, and with which is arranged adevice for removing the buttons. Fig. is a section showing plates A andB when placed together, with buttons in the cavities between them. Fig.5 is a section of plate B, with the buttons lying in the depressionstherein. Fig. 6 is a section showing` plate C with a device for removingthe buttons therefrom. Fig. 7 is a section' showing the plates B and C,together with buttons in tacle for holding plate A for the purpose ofcollecting and arranging the buttons.

My invention has been applied by me in the manufacture ofsuspender-buttons. These buttons are wholly or in part of metal, and

Fig. Sis a i the process heretofore employed in japanning them has beeneither to dip or immerse them in japan in a vessel from which the japanis afterward strained off, and the buttons picked apart, or to placethem in revolving cylinders, into which the japan is sprinkled While thebuttons are kept in motion or to rotate them lin a cylinder or rattlerover the fire after the japan is applied until they are suiicently drynot to stick together, or other similar methods. These operationsinvolve considerable time and labor.

The object of my invention is to obviate the necessity of these methods.

I proceed to describe my invention as applied hy me to the japanning ofsaid metal buttons. These buttons are circular, and have a depression inthe center of their face on one side. I form a plate, A, preferably. ot'brass, on the surface of which I produce a large number of depressionsof the size of the buttons to be japanned. In the drawings I haverepresented four depressions; but in practice I make as many of thesedepressions as possible on the surface of this plate, leaving a smallspace between each one-say, about one-quarter of an inch. Thesedepressions are made with a slight elevation in their center. In orderto iill this plate with buttons l usually place the plate in the bottomof a box, Fig. 10, adapted to receive it, and, pouring in a quantity ofbuttons, sweep or slide the same over the surface of the plate backwardand forward, by which means the depressions in the plate will be almostimmediately filled with buttons; and, owing to the fact that eachdepression has a slight pretuberance in the center corresponding to thedepression in the. face of the button, all the buttons will be arrangedon the plate with the same side downward. This arrangement of thebuttons with the same side downward I adopt for convenience, though itis not a necessary part of my invention. When the depressions on saidplate A are filled with buttons, as shown in Fig. l at a a, I place acorresponding plate, B, having depressions iu locations correspondingprecisely with the depression in the first plate over the top of saidplate A. Said two plates may be caused to register by pins in one or theother of them, as at b b, ttingintorecesses or sockets in the otherplate, as at c c.

By turning the two plates thus placed together over, as shown insection, Fig. 4', the

buttons are caused to be arranged in the second plate with the otherside upward. A brush filled with japan is then passed over the surfaceof said buttons as they lie in the depressions in the plate B, and theyare thus coated with japan upon one side. I now place a third plate, C,of the same size, and'having depressions in locations correspondingprecisely with the depressions in the rst and second plates, over theplate B, and turning the two plates over, as showuin section in Fig. 7,the buttons will be arrangedin the depressions in the plate C with theirunjapanned sides uppermost. With a japanning-brush I then coat the othersides of said buttons with japan, as before. The depressions in plate Care made with holes in their center, passing entirely through the plate.In the rear ot' the plate U I arrange a plate, E, of similar size. Thisplate is arranged to move on bearings, so that it may approach or recedefrom the plate C. The plate E is kept at a short distance from the rearsurface of the plate C by springs, as shown at d d. On thesurface of theplate E, toward the rear of the plate G, I arrange pins e e,corresponding in location to theA holes in the depressions in the plateC. Bypressing the plate E on its bearings toward plate C, the pins e ewill be caused to enter the holes in the depressions in the plate C. lWhen tbe buttons have been coated, as aforesaid,

y on both sides, I place over the upper surface ofthe plate C a plate,D, (shown in section at Fig. 8;) then, by turning the two plates C and Dover, and pressing the plate E towards U, so that the pins will enterthe holes in the depressions, the buttons will be pushed out of thedepressions onto the plate D, when they will lie separated from eachother at distances regulated by the depressions in the rst plate inwhich they were collected. The plate D has its surface preferablycovered with small points or projections, which may be readily .made bypunching small holes 4through-the surface of the same, or in any othersuitable manner, the result of which is that the said to use threeplates, so that the rst plate A may be kept clean for -the purpose ofcollecting the buttons, in the rst place, the plates B and C, or onelot' them, being subsequently used for the purpose ot' holding thelbuttons while they are. being coated with japan.

I have shown a particular form of devicev for removing the said buttonsfrom the depressions in the plate C after they are coated with japan;but I do not limit myself to'this form of device, as other known andexisting devices may be used for this purpose, though I have found thearrangement shown and described desirable. The buttons may also beallowed to fall out of the depressions onto the plate D by their owngravity; but I prefer the'use of a device to remove them, as they tendto stick by the japan. n

The plates described by me may be used for collecting buttons or smallarticles for other purposes than above indicated, and when used forcollecting or holding articles other than buttons the shape of thedepressions therein will of course be correspondingly modified.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,isl l. The improvement in the art ofjapanning small articles,which-consists in collecting said articles in one or more plates,substantially as above described, coating the same with japan while heldin said plates, and depositing' them and hardening them upon a baking ordrying plate, substautiallyas specified.

2. The improvement in the art ofjapanning small articles preparatory tobaking them, which consists in the process of coating one side/of saidarticles while the same are held in a plate, B, and removing saidarticlesto a second plate, C, which registers with the rst, and thencoating the opposite side of said articles.

CHARLES RADCLIFFE.

Witnesses: A

J AMES McMAHoN, EDWARD HEATON.

